Michelle's Blog

The latest from the BUAV's Chief Executive...

25/10/2013

A million voices have spoken and we are now more determined than ever

I am so proud that the global pledge run by our sister organization, Cruelty Free International, has received over a million signatures! Thank you to everyone around the world who signed and shared our pledge in support of our campaign for a world free from animal tested cosmetics.

I have travelled to Indonesia to attend Fashion Week in Jakarta today for our special announcement as we deliver the signatures to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). This is the first of many events where we will be presenting your signatures to governments and regulators around the world.

The Global Pledge was run as a partnership between Cruelty Free International and The Body Shop.Promoted across 65 countries, it has been the largest and most ambitious campaign ever to seek a global ban on the use of animals to test cosmetics.

Cruelty Free International will now use these pledges to call on governments and regulators around the world to recognise that ‘cruelty free’ is best for both business and ethics - and asking them to introduce a ban on animal testing for cosmetic products and ingredients.

As many of you know, the European Union ban on animal tested cosmetics came into effect in March 2013. But our work has not stopped there. Cruelty Free International is continuing to campaign for a global ban as over 80% of the world still allows animals to be used in cruel experiments for cosmetics products. Following on from the EU cosmetics ban, we are already seeing a positive knock-on effect around the world. The cosmetics industry is discussing the implications of the EU ban and Cruelty Free International is working within a number of countries to encourage change, including Korea, Brazil, China, the USA and Vietnam.

Thank you again for all your support. We could not do what we are doing without you!